The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-24
THINK ABOUT 1T.
II ALHAE3Nt
SsItLake City, Utah.

pleted their work, their lists present
some startling figures. In many of the
districts the total registration falls
considerably short of the vote cast at
the last lection, when not more than
one-t third of the registered voters cast
their ballots. Some time ago a very
careful examination OF the registration
and the poll lists was made and it
developed the fact that, for the Terri
tory, little above two fths of the
names of those on the registration lists
were of women, and slightly less
than two-ffths Of the votes cast were
boiled by wo men. It may therefore be
concluded that the disfranchisement
of women deprived, as near as
nay be, two-ffths of The hitherto
Toting population of the right
o VJte. But this ought not to
account for the remarkable fall
ng off in the registration. Either the
egistration lists before were fearfuily
overloaded and unreliable, bearing
hundreds Of names OF persons not en-
tiled TO vote, or those who have de-
lined 10 take the oath are greatly in
zcess OF the number which it was eX.
ected would refuse to swallow the
Ruseous dose. One thing is very plain,
nd it is thing which should set the
bid, influential, interested men in the
Immunity to thinking. Throughout
ne country at large the ratio of those
atitled TO vote to the whole population
as one to five and half. Thus
,mparatiVely small proportion of the
9ople exercise absolute political con-
ol of the national, state AM NUM-
pal governments; but if the registra-
on just closed in this Territory is an
dication of what the voting and
hce-holding strength of the people is
be, the political control will be exer
sed by smaller percentage than en-
Us it in any other part of the United
ates. There is at least one large pre-
net in this city in which the registra
IN is not equal to one in fifteen of the
pulation; it is doubtful if tae regis
stion for the entire city will show a
eater ratio than one to fifteen. As
more than so per cent. of the regis
ed voters take the trouble to vote,
political power will be confined to a
ere handful of tee community.
This is matter demanding the sober,
.ious consideration of all classes of
operty- holders. Gentiles, as well as
a-m0ns are interested in it. Those
brought on this infamous legisla-
did not think of the result, or else
ey wee reckless and vicious in the
IRENE. The public welfare is none
safe when the suffrage is possessed
all who are interested in the general
ID of the community; if. when pol
al power is held and control exercised
one in five that power and control
employed to Cypress the majority,
here not eminently greater danger
en- one has in his ballot the absolute
itical control of fifteen of his fellows2
danger is greater in this community
n it would be elsewhere, because of
fact that many of the leading men
among the distranchised, the prop
interest Of these men being perhaps
alter than that of all those who can
e and hold Office.
here should be an earnest, intelligent
1T put forth to induce more trust
thy citizens to place their names on
list and thus place themselves in
ition to protect the public from the
sible abuse of power by an insight
ut minority.